justshootme

I am looking at some tours of Egypt, I have read some trip reports of Insight Egypt tours on this forum. Egypt has always been a dream destination for me. I'd like some information on Insight tours to Egypt.

Please critc the following two tours:-

This is the Wonders of Egypt tour, it is US$ 1915 and is 10 days long.

http://www.insightvacations.com/us/i...our_id=2268606


This is the elegance of the Pharohs tour, it is 11 days and costs start at US$ 2699.

http://www.insightvacations.com/us/i...our_id=5957884

I am travelling solo and will need to pay extra for the single supplement. ( an addtional $500 - 600). Also, Abu Simbel is an additional US$ 269.

Any information that fodorites can provide will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Percy

First of all Insight is a good Company and they have good tours and you will be staying at the Marriotte Hotel in Cairo.


Not having read the day to day intinerary, I an wondering why the Pharohs tours is $ 700.00 more.

I would not miss Abu Simble.

Try to tell us why one tour is $700 more than the other.

justshootme

Percy, thank you for your reply.

The main difference between these tours AFAIK is that the more expensive itinerary stays overnight in Aswan. Both tours stay for 4 nights in Cairo and include a 4 night cruise on the Nile. Can't explain why one night in Aswan add $700 to the cost. There are no activities planned this day and an optional to Abu Simbel is available.

I know you wrote a trip report when you'd returned fromn Egypt, I've been looking for it and I'm still trying to find it. Which Insight tour did you take? Would you recommend the tour?

I'd definitely like to see King Tut's tomb and Abu Simbel.

I choose these two tours because they included 4 nights onboard the Nile cruise, maybe, 3 nights or 7 nights might be better, not too sure which is the best. I know the 7 night cruises are a combination of the 3 night and 4 night cruise, and the sights maybe repeated.

Thanks.

justshootme

Percy, I found your trip report.
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...om-egypt-5.cfm

DaveJJ

My wife and I did the Splendours of Egypt tour with Insight Vacations in January 08. We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend Insight Vacations. I have posted a trip report on both Fodors and Insight Vacations websites.

I did a quick review at IV site this morning and it would appear that the Splendours tour may have been renamed. I do know that the Splendours tour did NOT include an overnight stay at a hotel in Aswan.

Do not miss the optional trip to Abu Simbel it was one of the tour high-lites.

We recently returned from our 3rd Insight tour. We did the Grecian Dream tour in April/May 09. I have also posted a trip report for this one at both sites.

I would like to suggest that you read the 'tour tales' section of Insights Community Bulletin Board for the various Egypt tours. There is a wealth of information from some very experienced travellers. You should also visit the Ancient Civilizations section of the Bulletin Board. You can pose your questions there and receive some first-hand information on various matters that will benefit you in your trip.

justshootme

DaveJJ, thanks for your reply.

I have read you trip report, and found it very helful. In fact Percy posted a link in your tr to his tr, that's how I found his tr.

Which website(s) should I go to for the Insights community Bulletin board you are referring to?

DaveJJ

Here is the website for Insightvacations.

http://www.insightvacations.com/ca/

Along the top you will see a number of 'folders' one of which is called Community. The first item on the drop down menu is the bulletin board.

Now scroll down on the 'open' page and you will see Ancient Civilizations. You will find copies of trip reports but also a myriad of inquiries on the various tours. You may find that many of your questions/concerns have already been answered.

If you scroll down a little further on the 'open' page you will see Tour Tales. Once you open that the second item on the new page you will find links to over 200 tour tales. You will have to scroll through them to find ones on Egypt. However it is fairly easy since 'Phil' has them grouped together as much as possible.

I have perused this area of the site extensively when planning my trips with Insight.

judi_in_guatemala

Check out the itinerary Lady Egypt worked out for me under "2+ weeks in Egypt". I have sent it to several friends who have traveled to Egypt and they all agree that it is great. I will be traveling alone and have planned several free days to be on my own. Good luck!

Percy

Okay , I will just shoot you.

DaveJJ wrote a good report and I enjoyed all his comments.

Actually I flew from Cairo to Luxor ...then cruised to Aswan and then cruised back to Luxor from Aswan.

For me it was nice to have a full extra day just cruising the Nile...and taking in the scenery , which is nice as the Nile river is not that wide ,so you see people on both shores.

Your staying overnight in Aswan may be the reason for the extra cost...especially if they are putting you up at the Cataract Hotel.

I will look at the Insight website that DaveJJ gave the link to.

justshootme

Thanks, Percy, Judi and Dave.

Percy, I've been dreaming of going to Egypt for years, you will have to shoot me, if I don't get there sometime soon.

Dave, thank you for letting me know about the features on Insights webpage. I will be busy this afternoon, reading, reading and reading. There is a wealth of information here.

Judi, I have contacted Lady Egypt, twice and have had no reply from them. I am travelling solo, I looked at your thread, the itinerary is great. Could you please give me an idea of how LE compares costwise.

Percy, the hotel in Aswan is the Movenpick hotel, not the Cataract.

Given the difference in price I am considering the Wonders of Egypt tour, the price is Canadian $2175 + $530 (single supplement) + approx. $300 (Abu Simbel tour). I could be wrong but I think Percy and Dave both reside in Canada, I do too. Which bring the total price to be Canadian $3005. (about US$ 2770) for land only.

Percy

Well after reviewing the Insight Egpyt Tours I can see why someone would get a bit dizzy!!!

There seems to be too many Permutations and Combinations .

I did the "Splendors of Egypt " tour but I did not go to Dendara.

All tours take you to Aswan ...but not all the tours do not show that they take to to see the Temple of Isis on the Island of Philae....and

you want to go to this lovely Island and see this great Temple. It is a nice boat ride going there..then you circle the Island and get off and walk around.

I did a day in Alexandria after the tour ended in Cairo, as I stated in my trip report.

I do not envy anyone trying to decide on which tour to take

You want to go to Abu Simble and you want to go to Memphis also and see the step Pyramid and see the Bent and Red Pyramid.

when I researched my options for the tours... this is what I did:

I went over all the places I really wanted to make sure I saw ....then I picked the best tour that would show me these places.
Good Luck , we will help you all we can ..or maybe add to the confusion

Because , I think most people only go here once ! so see all you can.

Percy

justshootme...

"Wonders of Egypt would be okay and you are going to the Island of Philae. and also to Memphis.

Save some money for the flight to Abu Simble from Aswan.

The reason I got this nice lady Debbie who does small private tours in Cairo is because ,she took me to all the places that I would not have seen on the Insight Tour.

So I came one full day earlier to Cairo. I am glad I did.

Insight cannot take you everywhere in Cairo..not even to many of the major places.. but with Debbie I saw them all anyway.

it cost more BUT I saw more !

Yes DaveJJ and I live in Canada !

justshootme

Percy, I did look at Debbie's website, I find prices too expensive for a single traveller. This is often the case.

The feedback I have been given is very helpful, not adding to the confusion at all.

"Save some money for the flight to Abu Simble from Aswan." Yes, definitely going there, I know I need to make a reservation once I arrive.

I know the step pyramid is in Sakkara, where is the Bent and Red Pyramid?

I agree, I will only go here once, so I'd definitely like to see/do as much as possible. I will consider staying an extra day in Cairo.

justshootme

Percy, in which part of Canada do you live?

I'm from Niagara Falls/St Catherines, ON, but now I live in London, ON.

DaveJJ, is in Ottawa, ON.

Are you in ON too?

DaveJJ

I misspoke this morning........the Splendours tour is definitely still listed....I didn't scroll down far enough.

From my quick reading the main differences between the Wonders (10 days) and Splendours (13 days) is you fly back to Cairo from Aswan rather than sailing back to Luxor and then fly to Cairo....you also don't stop at Edfu.

jmvp

just shoot me,

I took the Wonders of Egypt with Insight Tours last April, it is a good one to take, Percy is a friend of mine and he helped me out in the planning, so any advice form him is valubable.

You see everything you would want to, Edfu is also included where you see the Temple of Horus.

The Temple of Isis on the Island of Philae is very nice.

Abu Simble is a must, and you can book and pay this ahead when you book the trip. There is no need to wait. If you don't want to do this, then on your first day orientation with Insight at the Marriott you can book it then. If you do a little research you will learn that Abu Simble and the Temple of Isis both had to be dismantled do the rising waters after the Damn was built, and relocated and assembled piece by piece, amazing.

The Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid can be seen from Saqqara which is where the Step Pyramid is, there is an elevation that you can walk up just inside the entrance and from here in the distance you will be able to see the Bent and Red Pyramid.

I took two days before the tour started and hired a Private guide to take us to Alexandria, and for also a full day in Cairo, where you can see many things, such as the El Khali Bazaar, Coptic, and Islamic Cairo, and the City of the Dead.
But I do agree with you hiring a private guide for one is quite costly.

Another choice might be if the Marriott can arrange a one day trip with a driver through Cairo, that might be worth checking out.

I thought the Wonders of Egypt was just right. I hope this helps a little.

Jo (also from Canada)

sandi

It appears to me that the Splendors trip includes the Abu Simbel visit ($300), overnight hotel and flight from here back to Cairo.

Both are traditional Egypt itineraries, the accommodations are excellent as are Nile Cruise boats. Unless you want to stay overnight at Abu Simbel, the 10/day itinerary + the $300 for the Abu Simbel visit only... go with the lower cost if budget is of concern.

Percy

Hi DaveJJ

Correct me if I am wrong but I think you do stop at Edfu in

"Wonders of Egypt "....and you visit their very lovely and well preserved Temple.

(Remember those two Falcon at the entrance for the Falcon God Horus).

Look again on the intinerary .....it says on the morning of Day 6... you do visit the Temple of Horus.

justshootme:

Yes, that is the trouble with one person single tours...they are expensive ( when I hired Debbie there were four of us ).

I saw Kom Ombo on the cruise back to Luxor from Aswan....most tours take you to Kom Ombo on the way going to Aswan

I live in Edmonton....where right now it is very hot !

Percy

Hi jmvp, Hi sandi ( I read many of your Safari comments )!

jmvp:
Good advice about that the Temple of Isis and Abu Simble were once submerged and that they weremoved.

This is interesting reading for you justshootme and you will appreciate just what a magnificent engineering marvel this was.

DaveJJ

Evening Percy......you are correct. I must have read way to quickly. I saw Edfu mentioned in Day 5 but thought they were only 'drifting upstream.....' I didn't notice the first item on Day 6 itinerary.